Born Genius Kindergarten certificate From Cleveland Municipal Clerk of Courts Foreshadowed Momina’s greatness “…your exceptional performance…evidence of your determination, hard work, and tenacity…place you among a select group of young people capable of providing the future leadership our society needs”
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Born Genius Kindergarten certificate From Cleveland Municipal
Clerk of Courts Foreshadowed Mominas greatness and intelligence
your exceptional performanceevidence of your determination, hard
work, and tenacityplace you among a select group of young people
capable of providing the future leadership our society needs
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Brought up as a child With Islamic values In Pakistani culture
With American principles Momina assimilated all three She was
simple Did not fall into cult of appearances or self-perceptions
With her intelligence, trained her parents how to properly raise
her
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Childhood Education Ordinary schooling throughout Al-Rahmah
Islamic School, Baltimore Mali Embassy School, Saudi Arabia
Pakistan Embassy School, Saudi Arabia
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Rural Roots Deep attachment Pride Quoted in essays many times
Family values You taught me how important family is. Thank you for
taking me to Pakistan.
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Middle School At Beaconhouse Extremely intelligent No
significant encouragement No significant mentor Disappointed In
education system Requested move to USA American principles Best
education system Opportunities for all Freedom of speech and
justice
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High School Academic encouragement Valedictorian Mentoring
& excellent coaching Foreign Extemporaneous speech Winner of
many competitions & tournaments Ohio state champion National
qualifier FBI & 9/11 story
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Graduation & College Accepted by many prestigious schools
Medical school Cornell University Duke University MIT Chose Duke
University Deans List Whos Who Among American Colleges &
Universities Majored in English Literature; minored in History
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Duke University Studied Philosophy & critical thinking
Allama Iqbal and related philosophers Bergson Kierkegaard Nietzsche
Sartre Concluded that only Iqbals philosophy was relevant to today
and awakened consciousness in humanity, Muslim youth in
particular
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Harvard University M.A. from Department of Near Eastern
Languages & Civilizations Studied Farsi, Urdu, Arabic, and
Hindi Poetry of Iqbal, Rumi, Hafiz Spirituality taken to next level
Presented original paper at 2008 Duke-UNC Islamic Studies
Conference Body and Spirit: Interlocutory Moments between Muhammad
Iqbal and Existentialist Philosophers Developed a semester-long
course Readings in Indo-Muslim Thought in North India from the
Medieval Period to Partition
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UVA School of Law Aspiration to be American- Muslim legal
scholar Belief in Law As best means to free intellect from
oppression Law Firm Paralegal Mona Standard Improve conditions of
poor and marginalized i.e. prisons University of Virginia School of
Law One of few students in history of school to get straight As
Professor Caleb Nelsons Letter of Recommendation
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Allama Iqbal & Momina Studied Iqbals philosophy &
poetry Followed his footsteps Learned German Visited Germany &
same lecture hall where Iqbal studied University of Heidelberg
Brought back poster of Iqbal and Jinnah
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Allama Iqbal & Momina Called herself Allama Iqbal Studied
his philosophers & Iqbal himself Against capitalism,
colonialism, globalization and their exploitative inclinations Deep
love for Prophet
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Allama Iqbal & Momina Studied Quran and applied principles
in same way as Iqbal
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Iqbal aur Qawm al-Zalimeena From: Momina Cheema To: Dr.
Akhtar Cheema, tayyeba zia Tue 2/26/08 5:55 PM 10:85 They said: "In
Allah do we put our trust. Our Lord! make us not a trial for those
who practice oppression meri tarha Iqbal bhi aalimi Capitalist
nizam pe socha karte the aur is ke azlam is zamane ki dunya mein.
wo in alfaz mein Allah ko puchtey: tu qaadir o' adil hai magar tere
jahaan mein hain talkh bahot banda-e mazdur ke auqaat kab doobega
sarmaya parasti ka safeena dunya hai teri muntazir-e roz-e
makaafat
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Love of Family Respected, listened, discussed Valued by her and
her family My sister is wise and intellectual. My parents cannot
argue with her because what she says is the truth Academic guidance
and role model to brothers Unique diary written to mother
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Love of Pakistan Studied and followed Pakistans social and
political problems Wanted to implement interest-free microfinance
for indigent, home-staying women in her village 1 st place essay
for Pakistan Independence Day Shaping the Future of Pakistan
Solutions given; still relevant today Optimistic I am without a
doubt that Pakistan can overcome these obstacles and become a great
nation, for I am reminded of the words of Quaid-e- Azam Muhammad
Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, who once remarked
Failure is a word unknown to me.
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Islamic Faith Strong and certain faith in Quran & Sunnah
Thoroughly studied tafsirs while at Duke & Harvard Ibn Kathir
original exegesis Bukhari, Muslim hadiths Often meditated on
Quranic verses To find deep understanding Shared with family and
friends
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The Perfect Way of Life Impressed by Sufi approach to life and
its teachings Al-Ghazali, Data Ali Hujwiri Sultan Bahu, Baba Bulleh
Shah, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, Ghalib Grandfather: Ch. Sardar Ahmed
Zia Influence Spiritual, down-to-earth, humble, sincere, generous,
witty
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Activism Palestine Solidarity Movement Duke University
Recognition by Dean Brodhead Movement for Restoration of Judiciary
Actively participated in 2008
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Activist Wanted to improve Muslim image in world, particularly
of Pakistanis after 9/11 Personal trip to Pakistan with best friend
Cathy Visited Iqbal Academy, Data Darbar, Kasoor, Ali Hajweri
Spread message of respect and peace, inspired friends Through
knowledge of Islam and Sufism Friends claimed to be astray; Momina
changed their lives by bringing them into spiritual realm Even
online with those not on personal terms